WITH THE RIFLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1916, Page 7

WITH THE RIFLE.

GROUP SHOOTING MEETING. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. A knowledge of; the use of the rifle is at all times a desirable acquisition, and it is all the more worthy of encouragement at this particular time. It is, therefore, pleasing to chronicle that among the New Year holiday attractions was a ride meeting at the Waiwakaiho range, open to cadets, territorials and riflemen within No. S Group, which extends as far south as Waitotara. This group ha s done remarkably well in providing recruits for the various expeditionary forces that have left the Dominion, and this keenness in military matters was reflected by the large number of entries received lor the meeting, despite the fact that the prize-list was not framed on lines to attract "pot-hunters." The entrants comprised 91 cadets, 3 rifle club men and 24 territorials, and though for various reasons a. number failed to turn up, there must have been fully 140 who participated in the various matches. The shooting was Under service conditions, only Government sights being allowed, whilst slings, verniers and the various other aids to shooting affected by the experienced shots were absolutely barred. This, with the adverse weather conditions, considerably affected the shooting, which was, taken right through, very moderate. The Qig|ht was good, but the wind was tricky and gusty, and sorely tried the marksmen, especially the cadets, all of whom wore handling strange rifles. Another factor was, of course, the lack of practice through the difficulty of securing rifles. On the day, the rifle club men showed the best results, though shooting under conditions with which they were not so familiar as at the bull's-eye. They were seconded by the cadets, some of whom —particularly Private M. Rogers (Stratford High School), who obtained two first and two seconds in four matchesput up fine performances.

The Defence Department provided the prize-money and ammuniton, the otliei expenses having to be paid out of entrance money, etc. It was a big undertaking to attempt to fire off five matches in the day with such a number competing, but the regimental officers proved equal to the occasion, and by dint of good organisation and keeping strictly to business the last match was got off and prize money paid out before 6 p.m. Mr. H. Stocker held the secretarial reins, which meant that this department was in capable hands. Lieut.-Col. E. N. Okey, V.D., was range officer, and there were also present: Major McNaught (Officer Commanding the Group), Major Leech, Captains Moves, Ryder, Hartnell, licuts. Crutch, Humphrey, R. J. Clark and Lister. Sergt. Majors Bell and Hill. Lieut. Humphrey had charge of the mound and Captain Ryder the trench, being assisted here by Sergt. Arimtage. The marking, which was carried out by voluntary squads, gave no cause for complaint. The commissariat was in charge of Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant Ingram, and he was assisted by Mesdames Moves', Crutch, Ingham, Barnes, Rockell and Stotker, who had a busy time. The meeting must he considered an outstanding success, the departmental officers being very gratified with the support accorded by the men. Numerically, the entries exceeded thoso--of the Napier and Palmerston groups by two to one. The detailed results were:— GROUPING, 100 yards, second-clasa figure target, five rounds (possible 25). TERRITORIALS. Lance-Corp. Jarvis (N.P.), £1 55.. 25 Trooper E. 11. Annabell (Ngamatapouri), lis 3d 20 RAm. D. L. Tate (Waitara), lis 3d 20 Rflm. A. A. Rogers (Tarurutangi), 7s 6d 20 Lieut. Arnold (N.P.) 20, Pte. T. B. Kelly (N.P.) 20, Sergt.-Major George (N.P.) and Pte. A. P. Hobson (N.P.), 20, eacli ss. RIFLEMEN. Rfm. A. Blair (Hawera), £1 5s 25 Rfm. Lysons (N.P.), 15s 25 Rfm. S. H. Wigsteed (Stratford), 7a 6il 20 Rfm. Hamilton (N.P.), 7s Cd 20 Rfm. A. H. Jones (N.P.) 20, ss; Rfm. Beatich.iine (Hawera), R. Rcid (N.P.), Keating (N.P.), W. Bruce (N.P.), Sergt. Ekdahl (Hawera) 20, each 3b.

CADETS. Pte. M. Rogers (Stratford D.H.S.I. £1 5s 25 Pte. C. F. Bryan (Ilakalii), 7s Gd.. 20 Bugler Mcßobbie (Hawera). 7s 6d .. 20 Pie. 11. Sanderson (Eltliam), 7s (id 30 Pto. J. Evetts (Inglewood). 7s Gd .. 20 . Sergt. MeMnrray (N.P. H.S.), Pte. R. Ferguson (Okaiawa), Col.-Sergt. Bruce (N.P. U.S.), 20, each ss. Seven others tied for the last prize, and in the shootoff Pte. Boulton (N.P. H.S.) won with the score of 25. APPLICATION, 200 yards, second-class figure target, five rounds (possible 25). TERRITORIALS. Sergt. J. Mander (N.P.), £1 5s ... 22 Rfm. A.A.Rogers(Tamrutangi), 15s 17 Lanee-C'orp. .litrvis (N.P.), 7s Gd,... 17 Rfm. A. If. Murphy (Hawera), 7s Od 10 Rfm. Millar (Waitara), Trooper Annahell (Ngamatapouri). each 10. Pie. T. B. Kelly (N.P.), Pte. A. P. llobson (X.P.), each 15, ss. Counted out, Lieut. Arnold. RIFLE CLUBS. Rfm. M. T. Marrett (N.P.), £1 5s .. 23 Sergt. Ekdahl (Ilawera). 15s 20 Rfm. McWbirter (N.P.),'7s Gd .. .. 19 Rfm. 31. J. Marsh (Inglewood). 7s Gd 19 Pres. A. E. Surrey (Ingloffood), Rfm. C. Mooro (N.P.), A. Blair (Hawera), and A. H. Jones (N.P.), 18, each ss. CADETS. Sergt. Luccna (N.P. ITS.), £1 5s .. 19 Rfm. M. Rogers (Stratford D.H.S.I. 10s 19 Sergt. Stephenson (Tariki). 7s fid .. IS Sergt. LawnfStratfoid D.H.S.), 7s Gd 17 Pte. Herbert (N.P. H.S.), Creinor (N.P. H.S.), Col.-Sergt. Bruce (N.P. H.S.), Pte. J. A. Morris (Hawera) and Pte. Boulton (N.P. H.S.), 10. each ss. SNAP SHOOTING, 200 yards, target figure ;1 (head and shoulders |. six seconds exposure, five rounds (possible 20). TERRITORIALS. Trooper E. H. Annabel (Ngamatapouri), £1 os 15 Rfm A. A. Rogers (Tarurutangi), lis -Id 12 Rfm T. Roberts (Hawera), lis 3d 12 Rfm D. L. Tate(Waiiara), Luxton(N.P.), H, E, Taylor (Egmont Village), each 9, os lOd; A. N. Murphy (Hawera), S, os; Pvte Kinsella (N.P.), and Lance-Corp. Tarvis (N.P.h each 7. 2s 64

RIFLEMEN. Pres. G. H. Taylor (Inglewood), £1 5s ..„ T*ta C. H. Drew (N.P.), Us 3d »; 13 Rfm H. Coppen (N.P.), lis 3d. „„• 13 Rflm. A. R. Standish (N.P.), 7s 6d i, 12 Rflin. R. Reed (N.P.), J. E. Bennett (Inglewood) each 10, ss; A. Blair (Hawera), A. H. Jones (N.P.), and Keating (N.P.), each 0, 3s 4d. CADETS. Ptc. H. P. Wills (Hawera), £1 5s .. 17 Ptc. M. Rogers (Stratford D.H.S.) 10s 14 Ptc T. Rayner (Ararata), 7s (Id ... 11 Pte. G. P. Bryan (Kakahi), 7b Od .. 11 Ptc. R. Nitz (Tarurutangi), 10, sb; R. J. Mclntyro (Ohakune), Greiner (N.P.H.S.), Corporal Alexander (N.P.H.S.), Sergt. J. W. Stephenson (Tariki), Pte Owen (N.P,), and Sergt, Lucena (N.P.H.S.), each 9, 3s 'id, APPLICATION, 500 yards, first clasß figure target, seven rounds (possible 28 points), TERRITORIALS. Lieut. Arnold (N.P.), £1 5s 16 Pte. A. P. Hobson (N.P.), 15s ;.... 15 Pte Millar (Waitara) 7s 6d, ...... 15 Ptc S. Lovell (Inglewood), 7s fld ... 14 Sergt-Major George (N.P.), 7a Gd .. 13 Pte D. L. Tate (Waitara), Pte A. N. Murpliy (Hawera) 13, Lanee-Corporal Jarvis (N.P:), 11, each ss. Counted out, Sergt. Mander 11. RIFLEMEN. ' Rflm. A: Blair (Hawera), £1 59 .. 22 Rflm. A. E. Surrey (Inglewood), 15s 20 Rflm 11. T. Hall (Inglewood), 7s Od 19 Pres. G. H. Taylor (Inglewood), 7s Cd 17 Rflm T. Marett (N.P.) 17, Keating (N.P.) 16. A. 11. Jones (N.P.) 15, M. J. Marsh (Inglewood) 15, each ss. CADETS. Pto M. Rogers (Stratford D.H.S.), £1 5s 21 Pte R. Nitz (Tarurutangi), 10s .... 19 Sergt. J. W. Stephenson (Tariki) 7s ■ 6d 16 Col.-Sergt Bruce (N.P.H.S.), 7s 6d 14

Sergt. Lawn (Stratfo-d D.H.S.) 13, Sergt. Lucena (N.P.H.S.) 12, Pte. H. E. Jacka (Hawera) 11, Sergt. McMurray (N.P.H.S.) 11, Cadet Cheswas (Waverley) 10, each ss. Counted out, Cadeta Morria and Herbert 10. CHAMPIONSHIP, 600 yards, five rounds, first class figure target (possible 20). TERRITORIALS. Lieut. Arnold (N.P.), £1 10s .:....■ 13 Trooper E. H. Annabelle (Ngamatapouri), £1 11 Pte H. Hamilton, 15s .......V....... ; 9 Pte. Clemow (N.P.), 15s ' w .. ; .v.v.. 7 Pte T. B. Kelly (N.P.) 5, Pte D. L. Tate (Waitara) 4, Pte. A. A. Rogers (Tarurutangi) 3, Lance-Corp. Jan-is (N.P.) 3, each, 7s 6d. RIFLE CLUBS. Rflm A. E. Surrey (Inglewood), £1 las 13 Rflm. R. Willis (Kaponga), £1 ..*. 13 Rflm. Keating (N.P.), 153 12 Pros. G. H. Taylor (Inglewood), lfls 12 Rflm C. Moore (N.P.) 10, Marett (N.P.) 7, W. Bruce (N.P.) 7, A. H. Jones (NJP.) 7, each 7s 6d. CADETS, Pte. R. Kite (Tarurutangi), £1 15s 11 Cadet Cheswas (Waverley), £1 ... 10 Sergt. McMurray (N.P.H.S.), 15s .. 9 Cadet Hall (Inglewood) 8, Sergt. Lucena (N.P.H.S.) 8, Pte. Herbert (N.P.) 8 each ss. Territorials Riflemen Cadets. THE AUCKLAND MEETING. Pros. Palmer, and Rifleman D. Roots, of the Patea Rifle Clnb are competing in the Auckland Rifle Association's meeting. The former with 46 secured fourth prize £1 in the citizen's match, 10 shots at 200 yards service targets. 47 secured first prize.